Drought Contingency Plan

Drought Contingency Plan

for

San Jacinto River Authority GRP Division

Prepared by

San Jacinto River Authority

Adopted: February 28, 2019

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Section

Page

Section 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................1-1 Section 2. Utility and Service Area Description......................................................................................2-1

2.1 Utility Description ......................................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Service Area Description............................................................................................................2-2 Section 3. Drought Contingency Plan .....................................................................................................3-1 3.1 Drought Contingency Plan ? GRP Division...............................................................................3-1 3.2 Trigger Conditions ? Initiation and Termination .......................................................................3-1 3.3 Notification of Initiation and Termination .................................................................................3-4 3.4 Drought Response Stages ...........................................................................................................3-5 3.5 Pro Rata Water Allocation..........................................................................................................3-6 3.6 Compliance Metrics....................................................................................................................3-6 3.7 Public Involvement.....................................................................................................................3-7 3.8 Procedures for Granting Variances.............................................................................................3-7 3.9 Implementation and Enforcement ..............................................................................................3-7 3.10 Coordination with Regional Water Planning Group ..................................................................3-8 3.11 Updating of the Plan ...................................................................................................................3-8

Tables Table 2-1. 2018 GRP Participant Water Production ........................................................................................2-3

Figures Figure 1-1. Watershed Area and Facility Locations...................................................................................1-2 Figure 2-1. GRP Division Customers.........................................................................................................2-5 Figure 2-2. GRP Division Infrastructure ....................................................................................................2-7

Appendices Appendix A ? Resolutions Passed by SJRA, Transmittal Letter to Region H RWPG

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Introduction

Section 1. Introduction

In 1996, severe drought conditions affected every region of the State. Water systems throughout the State were forced to cope with water shortages or system capacity problems. In response to the 1996 drought, the 75th Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1, which directed the State to take a regional approach to water planning. One of the provisions of the legislation required the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to adopt rules requiring wholesale and retail public water suppliers to develop water conservation and drought contingency plans.1

Water conservation and drought contingency plans work together to help Texans manage shortterm and long-term water shortages. The goal of a water conservation plan is to achieve lasting, longterm improvements in water use efficiencies using strategies to reduce the amount of water withdrawn from a particular source, and to ensure that the water withdrawn is used in an efficient manner. Drought contingency plans are short-term in nature, using temporary supply and demand management measures in response to temporary and potentially recurring water shortages and other emergencies.

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), as a water right holder and wholesale water supplier, is required to submit a Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan to the TCEQ and Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). SJRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1937 to:

"Provide water for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial and mining purposes within and without the watershed of [the San Jacinto River], including water supplies for cities, towns and industries, and in connection therewith to construct or otherwise acquire water transportation, treatment and distribution facilities and supplemental sources of water."2

The SJRA watershed includes all of Montgomery County and portions of Waller, Grimes, Walker, San Jacinto, Fort Bend, and Liberty Counties (Figure 1-1). The SJRA also serves customers and is authorized to operate in east Harris County through an agreement with the City of Houston.

SJRA is governed by a seven-member board. The General Manager oversees approximately 170 employees and all facilities across five divisions: Lake Conroe, Highlands, Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP), Woodlands, and Flood Management. The following is provided as the Drought Contingency Plan (including utility description, service area description, and drought measures) for the GRP Division (the Division). The Division's Water Conservation Plan is provided under separate cover.

1 Senate Bill 1, 75th Legislature, Section 12.1272 of the Texas Water Code. 2 House Bill No. 832, 45th Legislature, Regular Session, Austin, TX, 1937.

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